Watering System for Watering Plants

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device ( 30 ) for watering plants by means of an electronically operating control system. The substrate moisture is measured at time intervals, and the measured values of a plurality of measurements are stored. The measured values that have been stored are used to identify a trend in the moisture content of the substrate, and this trend is used to adjust a quantity of water to be applied. A number of measurement cycles taking place between two watering cycles is preferably used to readjust the quantity of water.

1 .- 23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . A method for irrigating plants by way of an electronically functioning control system, comprising the steps of:
 measuring substrate humidity in time intervals,   storing measurement readings of a plurality of measurements, and   deriving a humidity trend of the substrate with the stored measurement readings, the humidity trend being used for the readjustment of a water quantity to be watered.   
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein a number of measurement cycles between two watering procedures is used for readjustment of the water quantity. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the water quantity is increased, with a number of measurement cycles between two watering procedures, which number of measurement cycles is smaller than a predefined number of measurement cycles. 
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the water quantity is reduced, with a number of measurement cycles between two watering procedures, which number of measurement cycles is larger than a predefined number of measurement cycles. 
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein the water quantity is reduced, with a number of measurement cycles between two watering procedures, which number of measurement cycles is larger than a predefined number of measurement cycles. 
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 24 , further comprising a first and a second measurement mode, which differ at least by a different, minimal time interval between two consecutive watering procedures, and wherein one goes over from the first measurement mode to the second measurement mode, as soon as a predefined number of increases of the water quantity is exceeded. 
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein a frequency of a watering cycle is increased on exceeding a predefined number of increases of the water quantity with consecutive watering cycles. 
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the water quantity to be watered is determined over a watering time. 
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein a computed water quantity is measured by an electronically functioning throughput sensor. 
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein an alarm, in particular an optical or acoustic alarm, is activated with a non-response of the throughput sensor. 
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein a communication is sent to a user with a faulty behaviour of the control system, in particular with a non-response of a throughput sensor. 
   
   
       35 . A device for the automatic irrigation of plants comprising:
 an earth humidity sensor;   an electronic control circuit, with which signals of the earth humidity sensor may be received; and   a means for the control of a water supply, the means being connected to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit contains a data memory, in which measurement readings may be recorded over a certain time period, and the control circuit contains evaluation electronics, with which a trend of the measurement readings may be ascertained and may be used for a correction of a water quantity to be watered, by way of an activation of the means for the control of a water supply, in accordance with the trend.   
   
   
       36 . A device according to  claim 35 , wherein the means for the control of a water supply contains a water throughput meter and a set-up for switching the water flow on and off. 
   
   
       37 . A device according to  claim 35 , further comprising an operating panel via which at least one of the following may be set:
 different threshold values for a critical dryness of different plant types;   a water quantity to be watered per watering cycle; and   different measurement modes with differently set watering frequencies.   
   
   
       38 . A device according to  claim 35 , wherein an operating panel contains at least one of the following:
 a display of a current ground humidity;   a display of the function of the means for the control of a water supply; and   a display of a charged condition with battery operation of the device.   
   
   
       39 . A device according to  claim 38 , wherein at least one display is an alarm display with which an alarm may be activated given at least one of the following:
 a non-response of a throughput sensor during a watering procedure;   on reaching a lower threshold of a charging condition of a battery.   
   
   
       40 . A device according to  claim 35 , further comprising a temperature sensor for the control of a heating/cooling of a conservatory to be brought over a plant. 
   
   
       41 . A device according to  claim 35 , further comprising a telephone modem connected thereto, for sending alarm communications. 
   
   
       42 . A device according to  claim 35 , further comprising a submersible pump for producing a water flow which is necessary for a watering procedure, the pump being able to be activated by the control circuit. 
   
   
       43 . A device for the automatic irrigation of plants comprising:
 an earth humidity sensor;   an electronic control circuit, with which signals of the earth humidity sensor may be received; and   a means for the control of a water supply, containing a water throughput meter and a set-up for switching the water flow on and off, the means being connected to the control circuit,   wherein the control circuit contains a data memory, in which measurement readings may be recorded over a certain time period,   wherein the control circuit contains evaluation electronics, with which a trend of the measurement readings may be ascertained and may be used for a correction of a water quantity to be watered, by way of an activation of the means for the control of a water supply, in accordance with the trend, and   wherein the device further includes a submersible pump for producing a water flow which is necessary for a watering procedure, the pump being able to be activated by the control circuit.   
   
   
       44 . A device according to  claim 42 , wherein a magnet valve may be activated, and releases or stops the water flow from an external water supply, the water flow being necessary for the watering procedure. 
   
   
       45 . An arrangement with a plurality of devices according to  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of devices are connected to one another via signal connections. 
   
   
       46 . An arrangement according to  claim 45 , wherein information on the momentary status of an individual device may be inquired from each of the connected devices via the signal connection. 
   
   
       47 . An arrangement according to  claim 45 , wherein maximally a single device is situated in a watering cycle. 
   
   
       48 . An arrangement according to  claim 45 , wherein the signal connection is connected to a central display for displaying the current status of all devices.